Ms. Stephanie

ABOUT the INSTRUCTOR

Stephanie Rihn, Certified ISR Instructor

Hi, I am Stephanie Rihn. I live in Castroville, Texas with my husband, Maurice. My husband is retired from his construction business and I am retired from my career as a registered nurse. We have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. One of our favorite things is spending time with our family. I was introduced to ISR Self-Rescue lessons when my grandson was a student. At the suggestion of my daughter, I watched one of my grandson's lessons and was so impressed with the skills he had learned at only 2 years old. He could swim and float to breath all on his own. I immediately realized that I wanted to teach these valuable skills to little ones to keep them safe.

I am now starting my 7th year teaching ISR and have taught hundreds of students including my four youngest grandchildren. I am very honored to serve my community by helping children become problem-solvers in the water so that "Not One More Child Drowns".

FAQs

How do the kids react during the first few lessons?

Children often fuss during the first few lessons because they are in a new environment and around new people. As your child becomes more confident in his/her ability in the water, the fussing will decrease. It is not unlike the first time you tried a new exercise class or were asked to perform a task at work that you’d never done before: the first time you try a new task it is always challenging, until you get the hang of it. It is the same for your young child. Your child is learning to perform a skill that he/she’s never done before.

What is the American Academy of Pediatrics position on swimming lessons for young children?

The AAP encourages parents to consider that starting water-survival skills training at an early age must be individualized, based on the child's frequency of exposure to water, emotional maturity, physical limitations and health concerns related to swimming pools. You can view their policies and suggestions through the AAP website here: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at- play/Pages/Swim-Lessons.aspx

Will my child need additional lessons?

Based on our research, we know that refresher lessons are important because children change so much both cognitively and physically during the first 0-5 years of life. It is important that their water survival skills grow with their bodies. Frequency depends on the child's age, growth rate, skill level and confidence level. The goal of refresher lessons is to help your child adjust his/her new body size and weight to his/her existing skill level. Your instructor will work with your child to help fine-tune his or her aquatic experience to assist with building efficiency, which will result in self-confidence. This is especially important if your child has not been able to practice any appropriate aquatic skill between seasons.

How do you teach them to hold their breath?

Breath holding skills are taught beginning with the first lesson. We shape breath control using highly effective positive reinforcement techniques. We continue to reinforce these breath-holding techniques throughout every lesson.

Contact Us

Click "Contact Us" to email the Instructor